Nepal to warm up in Delhi for ACC T20

In a bid to put good fight in the ACC Twenty20 Cup slated for November 22-30 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Nepali cricket team is on Saturday leaving for Delhi, India to play friendly matches against the local teams.

As a part of the preparation for ACC Twenty20 Cup, Nepal will play three matches in Delhi from November 15-18 under the fresh leadership of Paras Khadka. Nepal will play Indian Air Force Team on November 15 before taking on LB Shashtri Cricket Club two days later. The friendly tour will round up with a match against President-XI team of Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA). The DDCA president Arun Jetley managed the all-paid tour. The Nepali team will leave for the UAE on November 20.

The team coach Roy Luke Dias and newly-appointed skipper Parash were both positive towards the friendly tour. “Apart from the practice matches, the team can also learn game sense as well,” added Dias. Dias said he had an experienced side with two newcomers in Naresh Budhayer and Binod Bhandari. “I am very impressed with Bhandari as he has a very good eye to get runs along with being a wicketkeeper,” said Dias

Regarding the game plan, Dias said the team needed to bat well and improve in bowling department. “Our fielding department is OK but we have to bat well apart from improve on bowling. Since it’s a Twenty20, the result can go either side at any moment,” added Dias, who recently completed the ACC Level-III Coaching Course in Dhaka.

The coach said the team would miss the service of leg spinner Raj Kumar Pradhan. Pradhan left for Qatar few days before the final 14 was announced. “I had no option when he told me of his plans. But, I have spinners in Sanjam Regmi, Shakti Gauchan and Basanta Regmi and Sharad Vesawkar can also bowl,” he said.

Dias said the team was well prepared to lift the cup. “The boys had good training. But it’s anyone’s game and I am sure other teams would be equally strong,” he said. Asked about the match turners in the team, Dias said it was very difficult for him to pick a single name. “I can’t pick a single player but as Binod Das is free from captaincy, he can focus on his game and come handy with bat too,” he said.

The team management decided to give the responsibility of vice-captain to Gyanendra Malla. “After the consultation with Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) President Binay Raj Pandey and General Secretary Tanka Paneru, we gave responsibility of the vice-captain to Malla,” informed Dias.

Skipper Parash, who replaced Das for the shortest version of the game, said the team was confident of doing well in the UAE. He also said the players have learnt lessons from the mistakes made in the past. “Everyone knows we have the potential and we need consistency for better results,” said Paras. Regarding the practice matches in India, Paras said: “Since India is the Mecca of cricket we’ll get to play with strong teams where we can test ourselves and explore our strengths and weaknesses.”

Like Dias, Paras also said the team would miss Raj Kumar Pradhan’s services. Pradhan an experienced player and it’s a loss for our country,” said Paras. Asked about the preparations, Paras said: “Preparations are never enough whatever you do but we have done our best with the available resources.” Paras outlined the need of the players’ commitment towards the individual role in the team. “If every individual performs according to the given role we can definitely win,” said Paras. Paras said he was esteemed to get the role of captain. Secretary at the Youth and Sports Ministry Sushil Rana, joint secretary Shyam Mainali and CAN president Pandey among others bade farewell to the team.

Shretha receives ICC Award

KATHMANDU: The Secretary at the Youth and Sports Ministry Sushil Rana on Friday handed over the ICC Centenary Award to Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) member Naresh Kumar Shrestha after the cricket team’s farewell at the Ministry. Shrestha is one of the five cricket personalities awarded by the ICC on the occasion of its centenary celebrations. Shrestha was not present in the previous programme when the awards were handed over. CAN President Pandey, Vice-president Upendra Bhattarai, the then Secretary late Shashi Dutta Pandey and former Vice-president TB Shah were the others to receive the honour.

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This entry was posted on आइतवार, नोभेम्बर 15, 2009 at 12:36 अपराह्न and is filed under समाचारहरु.
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